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Conjoined nerve roots of the lumbar spine
The Spine Journal, 08/09/2012
Clinical Article
Trimba R et al. – Preoperative recognition and diagnosis of this anomaly has proven to be the best way to improve the chances of a successful procedure and avoid inadvertently damaging the nerve roots intraoperatively. Several radiographic signs of conjoined lumbar nerve roots have been described using standard MRI techniques including coronal T1– and T2–weighted sequences. Intraoperative management of conjoined nerve roots has not changed significantly since they were first identified, although diagnostic accuracy has improved with advanced MRI techniques.